Toy lariat



Aug. 28, 1962 P. H. MAFFET 3,050,901

TOYLARIAT Filed Jan. 20, 1960 Paul H. Maffef 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofitice 3,050,991 Patented Aug. 28., 1962 3, %,9d1TBY LAREA'I Paul H. Matfet, Woodiand Park, Colo. Filed Jan. 20, 1969,Ser. No. 3,544 6 Claims. (CI. 46-51) The present invention relates tocertain new and useful improvements in a toy lariat and has reference inparticular to a handle of structurally distinct form. 1

Toy lariats are, of course, popularly sold at all toy and departmentstores, particularly those where cowboy suits and similar paraphernaliaand equipment are generally handled. However, a well known market forthe sale of lariats and lassos is recognized wherever western rodeos areplaying. The demand is for a lariat embodying a rope or the like whichprovidesa good expansible and contractible noose or loop. In addition,the end of the rope opposite to that in which the usual slip-knot isprovided must be readily connectible with handle means. Then, too, theconnection between the rope and handle means should be such thatrelative movement in the nature of a simple swivel is present.

It follows that an object of the instant invention is to provide animproved handle. Experimentation and practice has shown that the type ofhandle which is usefully, economically and otherwise advisable anddesirable is one which provides for quick connection. Therefore, anobject of the present invention is to provide a novel handle. Theembodiment of the invention herein disclosed is a preferred one in thatthe handle is constructed from bendable but amply rigid sheet material,for example, a simple strip of aluminum or suitable plastic material.

In carrying out the principles of the invention the handle comprises astrip of aluminum of requisite length and width which is bent betweenits ends to provide a'substantially U-shaped portion. The U-shapedportion provides a pair of elongated opposed limbs and intervening bightportion. The bight portion has a suitable hole therein which makes itpossible to thread the end of the rope therethrough and to shorten thelength of the rope depending on the size of the child user and to thentie a simple knot therein to provide a separable swivel connection. Withthis construction the effective length of the rope can be readilyadjusted on the spot by the seller and the knot tied and given to theyoungster to suit his particular needs.

The handle also has its limbs in opposed relation and bent into slightchannel-shaped cross-sectional form for rigidity. Then too, the limbs,downwardly from the upper free ends of the limbs, the portions providingthe hand-grips, are struck-out and formed with tongues and the tonguesbent laterally into overlapping relationship and provide satisfactorystops or stop-lugs which limit the movement of the limbs or handlestoward each other and insure suflicient rigidity in the handle portionsthat firm squeezing will not distort or disalign the handles.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a toy lariat constructed inaccordance With the invention and showing how it is constructed andused;

FIG. 2 is a larger. view of the handle with portions broken away andshown in section; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a small scale of the aluminum strip orequivalent strap metal or sheet material from which the handle is madeand which promotes acceptable mass production needs. I

Referring to the drawing, particularly to FIG. 1, the

numerfl 4 designates the rope which may be of appropriate materialusable in toy lariats. Because this overall lariat can be turned outinexpensively, a good quality rope which slides and enables theperformer to do tricks so-called, may be reasonably high quality. In anyevent, one end of the rope is provided with a slip-knot as at 6 and theadjacent portion 8 is threaded therethrough to define and expansible andcontractible noose or loop 10. The other end portion 12 of the rope'isconnected to the handle means referred to generally by the numeral 14.This handle means comprises an elongated U-shaped member having a bightportion 16 and opposed spaced elongated limb portions 18, the medianparts of which are channel-shaped in cross-section as at 20 for rigidityand also to provide convenient finger-grips as illustrated in FIG. 1. Inother words, by turning in the opposite lengthwise edges of the limbsand having the convex sides of the channels facing outwardly,satisfactory grips are provided. The free end portions 22 have tongues24 struck out therefrom and these tongues are bent laterally inwardlyand in overlapping relationship and provide stop lugs. In other words,the free ends of the lugs engage the opposite limbs to prevent theotherwise too-flexible handle portions of grips from being squeezed soclose together that the limbs might become disaligned and otherwisedistorted. Also, this arrange- IIlfiIIlZ prevents the youthful usersfingers from getting trapped and squeezed between the limbs when theyare pressed together in carrying out vigorous spinning and other trickymaneuvers with the rope. The bight portion has a hole 26 therein and itis through his hole that the free end portion 12 of the rope is passedand then tied in to a retaining knot' 28. This knot may be tied in sucha way that the length of the rope can be adjusted. The fact that theknotted end of the rope is in a fairly open space between the limbs orportions 18 makes it possible to get at the rope and-make theadjustments as desired. Also, with this construction one can use anextra rope inasmuch as the novel handle is detachably connected with therope.

It will be seen that the invention is such that it serves the purposesfor which it is intended and is destined to appeal to the economicalproduction needs of makers, low price sales charges of retailers, andwill meet the expected needs of purchasers and users.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed-as new is as follows:

1. A toy-type lariat comprising, in combination, a length of rope havinga slip-knot at one end with a portion of the rope slidingly cooperableand providing an adjustable noose, and a handle, said handle having aU-shaped portion including a bight portion and relatively long limbs,said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly providing a handlinggrip, said bight portion having a hole, and an end of the rope passingthrough said hole and being knotted in a manner to swivelly andseparably connect the handle and rope, said handle being formed from abendable and formable piece of strip material, and said limbs havinglateral inwardly projecting overlapping stop lugs, the tip of one lugabutting one limb and the tip of the other lug abutting the other limband thus preventing the free ends of the limbs from being squeezed andpressed too closely together.

2. A toy-type lariat comprising, in combination, a length of rope havinga slip-knot at one end with a portion of the rope slidingly cooperableand providing an adjiisb.

able noose, and. a handle, said handle having aqU-shaped portionincluding a bight portion and relatively long limbs, said limbs opposedto each other and conjointly providing a handling grip, said bightportion having a hole, and an end of the rope passingrthi'ough said holeand being tied into a knot resting upon the bight portion and swivelly,separably and adjustably connecting the handle and rope, said handlebeing fashioned. from a single flat strip of bendable aluminum ofrequisite gauge and cross-section and Width, said limbs convergingtoward each other at their free ends and the portions adjacent the freeends having cooperating stop lugs to limit the movement of thelimbstoward each other.

'3. I For use in conjunction with a length of rope having a slip-knot atone end portion with an adjacent portion ofthe rope proper slidinglycooperable with the slip-knot and defining an adjustable noose'and ahand-tied knot at 'theother end; the improvement comprising a readilyattachable and detachablehandle' U-shaped in edge elevationand embodyinga bight portion and a pair of opposed relatively long limb-s lateral tothe ends of the bight portion, said limbs opposed to each other andconjointly defining a'grip, said'bight portion having a hole ofpredetermined diameter so that a portion of the ropemay be passedthrough 'the hole and the knotted end of the rope allowed to abut thebight portion so as to provide a separable and swivel connection betweenthe rope and bight portion, the length of the bight portion being suchthat the limbs at the ends of the bight portion are adapted to be spacedon diametrically opposite sides of the knot formed in the portion of therope that may be passed through the hole, said limbs having free endportions and said free end portions having tongues projecting therefrom,said tongues extending lat- 'erally and inwardlyitoward therespectivelhnbs and slidingly overlapping each other and constitutingstop lugs,

"the free ends of the lugs being engageable with the opposite limbs torigidifythe limbs and yet to allow suflicient freedom of action of thelimbs in response to handling of the same by a user.

4. The combination of a length of rope having a'slipknot at one endportion with an adjacent portion of the defining an adjustablenoose anda hand-tied knot at the other end, a readily attachable and detachablehandle- U-shaped in edge elevation and embodying a bight portion and apair of opposed relatively long limbs lateral to the ends of the bightportion, said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly defining agrip, said bight portion 7 having a hole of predetermined diameterslightly greater than the cross-section of the rope so that a portion ofthe rope may be passed through the hole and the knotted end of the ropeallowed'to abut the bight portion and in this manner provide a separableand swivel connection betwen the rope and bight portion, the length ofthe bight portion being appreciably greater than the largest diameter ofthe.

knot so that the limbs at the ends of the bight portion are spaced ondiametrically opposite sides of the knot, :said limbs having free endportions and'said free end portions having tongues projecting therefrom,said-tongues extend-' ing laterally and inwardly toward the respectivelimbs and slidingly overlapping each other and constituting 'stop' 1lugs, the free ends of the lugs being engageable with the opposite limbsto rigidify the limbs and yet to allow sufli cient freedom; of action ofthe limbs in response to han dling of the same by a user. i

5. The combination defined'in claim 4 whereinsaid free I end portionseach have their outer surfaces. curved, and

their opposite end portions substantially flat, the curved surface ofeach free end portion being connected to'the flat portion of each limbby an abutment directed to an opposing limb, said abutment functioningas a finger rest.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said handle is composedofsheetmetal and said free end portions are channel shaped incross-section for increasing the rigidity thereof. a r V I a ReferencesCited in the file of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweetman Apr.11, 1950

